Julian drove smoothly, glancing over now and then to make sure I was comfortable. He laid his warm hand over mine, and I relaxed. "Don't be afraid. I'm here for you now."
I nodded. The moment I returned to the Hartley estate, I finally felt like myself again.
My stepmother looked terrified when she saw me. I didn't have to say a word. She left on her own. In all 6 years I'd been missing, she'd never once looked for me.
Once I'd recovered, I officially returned to Hartley Group and took back control. I worked late into the night, reviewing the accounts and catching up.
Within a month, the company had changed. Its stock price climbed steadily, and its position in the industry grew stronger.
Julian stood behind me through it all, giving me the confidence to push ahead and a safe place to
